Sepang: it could have even better if …

The tests in Sepang, maybe one of the most positive test in Rossi’s career, as stated by the seven time World Champion, could have been even better if …that sensor line connected to the front brakes and/or to the fork of his M1 was not bent by the upper fender! Yes, if you pay attention to the details of the above picture you will notice that under braking the line ended up out of the plastic instead of staying loose close to the forks.

Indeed today was a great day for Vale: he went faster of the previous two days considering that he was able to put ride 14 laps at 2’01 and his best lap, the 20th it was at 2’01.437, almost a second faster than his best lap in his last Gp in Malaysia.
In the interview at the end of the day beside recalling the work done on the electronic, the engine and the elimination of a vibration generated from the front tire, Rossi appeared extremely satisfied not only with his record, but especially with the consistence in his long runs, at race pace. To go fast until the end of the test he had to change a bit his lines to keep working with the tires: this is exactly what it helped him in winning his last few World championships. When everybody else was slowing down because of lack of grip he was squaring off the turns spinning the rear. Now I doubt that he did that today considering the traction control on the new bikes, but I am sure that a different arch must have give him some unused rubber for his final laps.
Last but not least, he pointed out that it has been a long time since last time he had so much pleasure in riding, and now he cannot wait the Jerez’s tests to ride with the rest of his competitors.

Source: motoblog.it

MotoGp: Rossi sets a new Record in Sepang

After flying from his M1 a few weeks ago Valentino came back to Sepang to fly again, but this time on the bike setting up a new record: 2’00.300 shadowing Nicky Hayden’s time of 2’00.326 clocked only 12 days ago.
Bastoner (the nickname given by the Italians to the Aussie, where bastone is a wood stick, as to say that he is the guy that kicks everybody’s butt) is not in Sepang, nor the rest of the fast guys. It would have been interesting to see in Sepang Pedrosa riding the new 2008 Repsol, but unfortunately he is still recovering from the recent surgery. Last week or so I read that he had openly claimed ” … historically every time Hayden has been responsible with the development it was not beneficial …”. On the other end Hayden has been working hard on the track to squeeze as much as he can from the winter tests, almost proving Randy Mamola’s theory according to which Hayden has never really get used to the 800cc and therefore, he will need to adapt his riding style to become more competitive.
Talking about challenges in acclaiming to new bikes, Melandri has having hard time in riding World Champion Ducati, with a probable satisfaction for Capirossi. Ducati has always been a bike for a few and not for everybody, and even if Macho will have to invest some time to learn how to use the full potential of the Red Missile, his effort could be paid off with a series of victories.
Tomorrow, Vale will have another chance to improve; let’s see what happen, but in the meantime check the funny Photoshop that Almos has found on mcnews.com.